Dual co-catalysts Ag/Ti3C2/TiO2 hierarchical flower-like microspheres with enhanced photocatalytic H2-production activity

Solar-powered semiconductor photocatalysis is considered a powerful strategy for addressing environmental pollution and energy crisis. Nevertheless, the separation and transfer abilities of photogenerated photocatalysts remain unsatisfactory. Herein, dual Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets/Ag co-catalysts synergistically decorated hierarchical flower-like TiO 2 microspheres for boosting photocatalytic H 2 production were fabricated by electrostatic self-assembly and subsequent photoreduction procedures. The optimal Ag/Ti 3 C 2 /TiO 2 composite demonstrated an excellent photocatalytic H 2 -production rate of 1024.72 μmol g −1 h −1 under simulated solar irradiation, achieving nearly 40, 2.3, and 1.8 folds with respect to that obtained on pristine TiO 2 , optimized Ti 3 C 2 /TiO 2 composite, and Ag/TiO 2 composite, respectively. The considerably improved photocatalytic H 2 -production activity is associated with the synergistic effect of the hierarchical flower-like structure of TiO 2 , excellent electrical conductivity of Ti 3 C 2 , and surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag, which enhances the light absorption capacity and promotes the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. This study provides insight into the design of high-efficiency photocatalysts with dual co-catalysts for solar H 2 production.